The American who became an overnight sensation during the 2008 US presidential campaign has filed paperwork to run for Congress.

Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher's statement of candidacy filed with the Federal Elections Commission last week says he intends to run as a Republican in Ohio's ninth US House district.

The incumbent is Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving Democratic woman in the House.

Mr Wurzelbacher rose from obscurity in 2008 after questioning then-candidate Barack Obama about economic policies, leading Republican senator John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin to repeatedly cite "Joe the Plumber" in debates.

Republicans in northern Ohio said over the summer they were recruiting Mr Wurzelbacher to run.

The filing means a campaign committee can raise and spend funds on Mr Wurzelbacher's behalf.